Automatic coiler can doffer and method



1968 .1. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD Filed March 10. 1964 ZO\ 20a? 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 F INVENTORSI .1 9'1 or: T. EoaeE-Ps and A\/\l A. DRUM WM Qv, w ,FW

ATTORNEYS May 14, 1968 J. 'r. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN D OFFER AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet Filed March 10. 1964 y 1968 .1. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD 5 I Z I? m m wm w M m 3M 0 u Jm a w Filed March 10. 1964 ZOO ATTORNEYS May 14, 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,332,543 I AUTOMATIC COILERCAN DOF'FER AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet 5 I Filed March 10. 1964 May 14, 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,332,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD Filed March 10, 1964 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 mum PRESSURE SOURQE- FAu LT- AcTuATEb STOP Mono y 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD Filed March 10, 1964 ll Sheets-Sheet '2 y 14, 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD Filed March 10, 1964 ll SheetsSheet 8 y 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD Filed March 10. 1964 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 v 20 122' 545 I I W50. 124,

195' V 192' IHIIHIIIIHIIII 9g? 1 v H7 May 14, 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD Filed March 10, 1964 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 my 107' d i y 1968 J. T. ROBERTS ETAL 3,382,543

AUTOMATIC COILER CAN DOFFER AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed March 10, 196

, v n I '1 a I I I J 11-. T. 207 and IAvn BYp ATTOENEKS i ,1 E Q a United States Patent 3,382,543 AUTOMATIC COILER CAN BUFFER AND METHOD Ice T. Roberts, Lowell, and David A. Drum, Dallas, N.C.,

assignors to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C.,

a corporation of North Carolina Filed Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,852 32 Claims. (Cl. 19159) This invention relates to textile coiling apparatus and, more especially, to an improved method and apparatus for dofiing full cans of sliver from a coiler or coilers of a sliver producing machine, such as a card, drawing frame, comber, or other textile machine, and replacing the full cans with empty cans.

Various types of coiler can changing mechanisms are known in the prior art. Some of such prior art mechanisms generally comprise a plurality of circular arranged turntables which, with empty cans thereon, are successively indexed to a position beneath a coiler head, Each successive turntable thus positioned is rotated to rotate the corresponding can as sliver issuing from the coiler head is coiled into the can. As each indexing operation of the turntable occurs, a full can of sliver is moved outwardly from beneath the coiler head and is then removed from the corresponding turntable and replaced with an empty can. In another known type of can changing mechanism, a pair of turntables are used for supporting and rotating coiler cans, and a shiftable coiler head is alternately positioned above the two turntables for coiling sliver into the corresponding cans one at a time. While either can is being filled the previously filled can on the other turntable is dotted and replaced with an empty can.

In addition to the necessity of providing two or more turntables and special means for eifecting rotation of each turntable while a corresponding can is being filled from a single coiler head, dificulties have been encountered in effectively disposing of or parting the sliver between each successive filled can and the succeeding empty can. In some instances, the sliver has not been parted adajacent the coiler head upon a can being filled, but has extended between adjacent cans.

When the sliver extends from a previously filled can into a succeeding can positioned beneath the coiler head, the trailing portion of the sliver extends throughout the full height of the can and not only causes uneven laying of the first few coils of sliver into the empty can, but also interferes with the withdrawal of sliver from the can after it has been filled and during subsequent processing thereof.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide a new and novel method and apparatus for transferring empty cans into full cans out of operative position beneath a coiler head or coiler heads in such a manner that only a single turntable is required for each coiler head and wherein the trailing sliver between each filled can and the corresponding coiler head is parted efiiciently and automatically in the course of each transfer operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus of the type last described in which each successive filled can is elevated toward the lower surface of the coiler head to compact further the sliver mass in the can against the coiler head, and then the filled can is moved outwardly from beneath the coiler head to tension and part the sliver adjacent the coiler head as a succeeding empty can is moved into operative position beneath the coiler head.

In the disclosed embodiments, the invention comprises a can supporting carriage or turret normally occupying a lowered position relative to a rotatable turntable positioned beneath the rotatable coiler plate of a sliver-feeding coiler head. The turret supports one or more empty cane While another can is being rotated upon the turntable. When the latter can is filled and the sliver mass there-- in presses against the lower surface of the coiler plate, the rotating turntable and coiler plate are stopped, then the carriage is elevated to where it will clear the turntable while elevating the cans thereon and more tightly compacting the sliver mass against the coiler plate, then the carriage is advanced to move the full can outwardly from beneath the coiler plate as the sliver is parted adjacent the coiler plate and to move an empty can into operative position, then the carriage is lowered to deposit the latter empty can upon the turntable, and then rotation of the coiler plate and turntable is restarted.

The present invention is also adapted to effect the transfor of coiler cans in sliver producing machines equipped with more than one coiler, such as a two-delivery drawing frame, and wherein the carriage may support in reserve a number of empty cans at least equal to the number of coilers and corresponding cans being filled at any given time.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention as used in conjunction with a two-delivery drawing frame and wherein two empty coiler cans and two full coiler cans are shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the coiler turntables and the carriage-indexin g means shown in the lower portion of FIGURE 1, omitting the cover from the indexing means and also omitting the carriage;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the carriage supporting and elevating unit taken substantially along line 33 in FIGURE 1 and showing the same in lowered position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to the left-hand portion of FIGURE 3, but being taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2 and showing the carriage in raised position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, mostly in elevation, taken substantially along line 5-5 in FIGURE 4, showing the carriage in lowered position and showing a valve and switch in association therewith for controlling the carriage-indexing and elevating means of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one of the coiler heads looking substantially along line 6-6 in FIGURE 1 and showing the control means for initiating a cycle in operation of the automatic can doffer;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to FIGURE 6, but being taken along the plane of the axes of the coiler head and coiler can so as to more clearly illustrate a movable sliver bumper and a recess in the bottom of the spectacle plate for receiving the bumper during indexing of the dolfer;

FIGURE 8 is an inverted schematic plan view taken substantially along line 8-8 in FIGURE 6 and showing the associated sliver bumper means;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the movable sliver bumper looking generally in the direction of the arrow 9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram of an electrical and fluid pressure system for the first embodiment of the automatic doffer;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of a sliver processing machine, embodied in a carding machine, having a single coiler mechanism and with which a second embodiment of the automatic dotfer of the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 in FIG- URE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the left-hand side of the structure shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a front elevation of the second embodiment of the automatic doifer with the associated coiler being partially broken away and showing the coiler cans in phantom lines;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the right-hand central portion of FIGURE 11 showing another embodiment of means for initiating a cycle in operation of the automatic doifer;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along line 16-16 in FIGURE 14, below the level of the carriage, but showing the carriage in phantom lines and showing, in particular, the mechanism for indexing the carriage;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 171'7 in FIG- URE 16;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 1818 in FIG- URE 16 and also showing portions of the carriage with a corresponding coiler can resting upon the coiler turntable; and

FIGURE. 19 is a schematic diagram of an electrical and pneumatic system for controlling operation of the second embodiment of the doffer.

First form 09 automatic can dofyer (drawing frame) The first form of automatic doifer of the present invention is devised for doffing coiler cans from two coiler mechanisms and is shown in association with a conventional two-delivery drawing frame which includes two roll sections or drafting Zones, broadly designated at 20, 26a, each of which includes a series of top and bottom drafting rolls a for doubling and drafting a plurality of textile slivers, not shown, and directing the same through respective trumpets 22, 22a to respective coiler heads, broadly designated at 23, 23a. A pair of calender rolls 24, 25 (FIGURES 6 and 7) which, in this instance, is common to both coiler heads 23, 23a, draws the slivers from the roll sections 20, 20a, through the respective trumpets 22, 22a and into the coiler heads 23, 23a.

Each coiler head 23, 23a includes a rotary sliver coiling member in the form of a coiler plate or tube gear 26, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 7 and both of which are shown in FIGURE 8. Each tube gear is mounted upon, and positioned in a suitable opening through, a spectacle plate 27 common to both coiler heads 23, 23a. Spectacle plate 27 is suitably secured to a main transverse beam or frame member 30 of a frame broadly designated at 31, which frame also includes opposed side frame members 32, 33 which rest upon a floor F.

The drafting rolls a of roll sections 20, 20a, calender rolls 24, 25 and tube gears 26 may be supported on the frame 31 in a well-known manner and may also be driven by conventional or other means well known in the art and, therefore, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. As is well known, the drawing rolls, calender rolls and tube gears of many drawing frames are started and stopped by respectively making and breaking an electrical circuit to a motor or by making and breaking the circuit to a clutch interposed between a motor or other conventional driving means and the drawing roll. Such a clutch is shown schematically at 35 in FIG- URE 10.

As is usual, suitable gearing, not shown, connects the drawing rolls a with a shaft 36 (FIGURES 6 and 7) journaled on the beam and which, in turn, transmits rotation to the tube gears 26 by means, not shown, which 4 may be in the form of gearing shown in US. Patent No. 2,700,797, dated Feb. 1, 1955, for example.

The drawing frame is equipped with a measuring device; i.e., a hank or yardage counter 40 (FIGURES 1 and 10) of a well-known type which may record the number of yards or hanks of sliver S (FIGURE 7) drawn between the calender rolls 24, 25 at each coiler head 23, 23a. The counter 40 may be driven by operative connections with the rear calender roll 24 and it should also be of a type which will actuate a signal switch, such a switch 41 in FIGURE 10, after a predetermined number of yards of sliver have been delivered to each coiler head 23, 23a; i.e., upon the corresponding coiler cans being filled with the desired amount of sliver, and which will serve to stop the drawing frame and initiate a cycle in the operation of the automatic can doffer to be later described. The counter 40 should also be of a type which may be reset to inactivate the switch 41 at the start of each can filling cycle of the drawing frame, such as by imparting movement to and then releasing a reset lever 42 provided on one side of the housing of the counter 49. Since such counters are well known in the art, a detailed illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary. The housing of counter 40 is fixed on a plate 43 carried by frame member 32 (FIGURES 1 and 6).

The drawing frame is also equipped with a hollow base (FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4) which may be suitably secured to the floor F and upon which a pair of coiler turntables, broadly designated at 51, 51a, are rotatably mounted for rotation about axes which are eccentric and rearward, to a predetermined extent, with respect to the axes of tube gears 26 of coiler heads 23, 23a spaced thereabove, as is usual. Although the coiler turntables 51, 51a may be conventional, they are preferably specially constructed to accommodate the embodiments of the carriage of the present invention as disclosed hereinafter and wherein the turntables are of substantially lesser external diameter than the diameter of the coiler cans and the coiler cans are provided with circularly arranged casters thereon. Four coiler cans are shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 1, each of which is broadly designated at C. However, in order to assist in the description of the automatic doifer apparatus, the four coiler cans are further designated at C-1, C-2, C1a and C-Za.

Each coiler can C may be of conventional construction, but each can C may be provided with a false bottom 55 (FIGURES 1 and 7) normally urged upwardly within the cylindrical wall of each can C by a suitable compression spring 56 (FIGURES 3 and 7). In the absence of masses of sliver being supported upon the false bottoms 55, they normally occupy a position adjacent the open upper ends of the corresponding cans. However, as is well known, the pressure of the sliver mass against the lower surface of the spectacle plate 27 during the coiling of the sliver into corresponding cans gradually forces the corresponding false bottoms 55 downwardly until their flanged peripheral edges engage the upper surfaces of the bottom walls 57 of the corresponding cans.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the bottom 57 of each can C is recessed with respect to the lower peripheral edge of the cylindrical body or wall of the corresponding can, thereby defining an annular flange 60 at the lower end of each can C, as is conventional. However, it is preferred that the recessed bottom 57 of each can C is provided with some form of circularly arranged abutment means thereon spaced inwardly from flange 60 and pro jecting downwardly from the bottom 57 below the level of the corresponding flange 60. In this instance, and as is preferred, the said abutment means is in the form of a plurality of circularly spaced Casters 61 which are preferably of the ball-type as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Casters 61 may be suitably secured to the lower surface of the bottom wall 57 of each can C and are arranged concentrically about the axis of each can C.

In order to accommodate coiler cans equipped with the casters 61, each coiler turntable includes a raised annular body or disk 63 whose lower portion is provided with an enlarged annular or circular flange 64. The external diameter of the annular body 63 of each turntable 51, 51a is substantially equal to the diameter of the circle defined by the proximal surfaces of the balls of the casters 61 of the coiler cans C. The external diameter of the flange 64 of each turntable is suflicient so the casters 61 may rest upon the flanges 64 and each flange 64 is of lesser external diameter than the flanges 60 on the lower ends of the coiler cans C for reasons to be given hereinafter.

As is usual, each turntable 51, 51a has a shouldered shaft 66 projecting downwardly therefrom and concentric therewith which is journaled in a suitable bearing 67 mounted in a correspondingly recessed portion of the upper wall of the hollow base 50. In order to insure that the coiler cans C rotate in fixed relation with the turntables 51, 51a whenever the coiler cans are positioned on the turntables, the flange 64 of each turntable is provided with a pair of circularly spaced restraining elements or abutments 65 which project upwardly therefrom and are so located as to engage corresponding casters 61 to thereby impart rotation to the corresponding coiler can C in fixed relation to rotation of each turntable 51, 51a.

The turntables 51, 51a may be driven to rotate in timed relation to and at substantially slower speed than the tube gears 26 of coiler heads 23, 23a by conventional means. To this end, the lower end of each shaft 66 .(FIG- URE 3) has a large gear 70 fixed thereon. The gears 70 engage a common intermediate gear 71 therebetween which is suitably journaled in the base 50 (FIGURE 2).

The gear 70 of turntable 51 is connected to the lower end of an upright coiler shaft 73 (FIGURES 2 and 6) by a train of gears 74. The upper end of coiler shaft 73 (FIGURE 6) has a bevel gear 80 fixed thereon which engages a bevel gear 81 fixed on the conventionally driven shaft 36 heretofore described. The gear train 74 (FIG- URE 2) may be arranged to drive the turntables 51, 51a in either direction and, in this instance, they are shown arranged to transmit rotation to the turntables 51, 51a in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 2.

With the exception of the peculiarities of the coiler cans C and turntables 51, 51a, the parts of the drawing frame heretofore described are conventional and it is with such or similar parts that the first embodiment of automatic doifer of the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated.

Details of first form of can dofier Since the drawing frame heretofore described is of the two-delivery type; i.e., it includes two roll sections, two coiler heads and two turntables, the first embodiment of the can doifer or transferring apparatus is adapted to support in reserve two empty cans, such as the cans C-la and C-2a, while the two active cans C-1, C-2 are being filled with sliver. Therefore, the can doifer comprises a substantially horizontally disposed turret or carriage, broadly designated at 100, mounted for indexing, shifting or stepwise movement on a vertical axis and which may include four circularly spaced, annular can supports or nests 101-104.

The inner diameters of supports 101-104 are sufficiently large so that each of them may be raised and lowered relative to and may encircle either of the turntables 51, 51a. On the other hand, the internal diameter of the opening of each can support 101-104 should be less than the internal diameter of the flange 60 (FIGURE 3) of each coiler can C so they all may support the cans C by their flanges 60 when carriage 100 is raised during dofling. Of course, any cans in reserve position are supported by corresponding annular supports on carriage regardless of whether carriage 100 occupies raised or lowered position. The outer periphery of each can support 101-104 may be provided with an upwardly projecting shoulder or flange 106 of sufficiently large internal diameter for loosely receiving the flanged lower ends of the cans C therein.

The hub 107 of carriage is fixedly mounted on a reduced upper portion 110 of an upright spindle or post 111 as by screws 112. The post 111 is part of a carriage supporting and elevating unit and arranged to raise and lower the turret or carriage 100 and to impart rotation thereto during each cycle in the operation of the automatic can doffer. Therefore, the post 111 is of hollow or tubular construction (FIGURE 3) and its upper end is closed by a cap 114 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

Cap 114 has the reduced upper portion 115 of a vertically disposed piston rod 116 connected thereto as by means of nuts 117. As shown in FIGURE 3, the post 111 and piston rod 116 rotate unitarily. However, it is to be understood that a suitable thrust bearing may be positioned between the cap 114 and piston rod 116, if desired, so the post 111 may rotate while piston rod 116 remains stationary.

The post 111 is mounted for vertical and rotary sliding movement on a tubular column or sleeve 120 whose flanged lower end 119 is suitably secured to the bottom wall 121 of an elongate substantially rectangular indexer housing broadly designated at 122 (FIGURES 2, 3 and 4). Housing 122 includes elongate front and rear side walls 123, 124 and opposed end walls 125, 126 which are suitably interconnected and are connected to bottom wall 121.

Housing 122 may be positioned in a suitable opening 127 formed in the floor F. Therefore, walls 123-126 of housing 122 have a flange 130 suitably secured thereto or formed integral therewith whose upper surfaces preferably are flush with the upper edges of walls 123-126 and which overlies the floor F and is suitably secured thereto. In order that housing 122 may be positioned as close as possible to turntables 51, 51a, flange 130 is cut away at its rear portion to accommodate the conventional coiler base 50.

A cover 131 is removably secured against the top edges of walls 123-126 to prevent dust, lint and the like from entering housing 122 while permitting access to the interior thereof. It will be observed in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 that cover 131 has an opening 132 therethrough through which the enlarged portion or body of post 111 loosely extends. A suitable seal 133, such as a resilient O-ring, may be provided in the wall of opening 132 to prevent dust, lint, and the like from entering housing 122.

Since post 111 and piston rod 116 are vertically movable, in unison, relative to sleeve 120, suitable sleeve bearings 134, 135 may be provided between the proximal surfaces of post 111 and sleeve 120 and between sleeve 120 and piston rod 116, respectively (FIGURE 3). Piston rod 116 loosely penetrates the bottom 121 of housing 122 and is fixed to or formed integral with a piston mounted for vertical movement in a fluid pressure cylinder 141 whose upper end engages the bottom 121 of housing 122 and whose lower end engages a cylinder closure member 142. A suitable piston ring 143, shown in the form of a resilient O-ring, may be provided between piston 140 and cylinder 141.

Cylinder 141 is held against bottom wall 121 of housing 122 by tie bolts 144, for example. Cylinder 141 is of the single-acting type in this instance and, therefore, is provided with suitable vent openings 145 at its upper end. A fluid pressure circuit for controlling the flow of pressure in the lower portion of cylinder 141 will be later described.

In order to transmit rotation to post 111 and carriage 100 for indexing the same, the lower portion of post 111 has a gear thereon which may be fixedly secured thereto, but is preferably integral therewith as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. During the can filling cycle of the coiler mechanisms, post 111 and carriage 100 occupy their lowermost or normal positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. In order to prevent unintentional rotation of post 111 while it occupies said normal position, the lower surface of gear 150 is provided with one or more cavities 151 therein adapted to be engaged by corresponding locking elements or pins 152 projecting upwardly from and in fixed relation to flange 119 of sleeve 120.

When post 111 is elevated by introduction of fluid pressure into the lower end of cylinder 141 (FIGURES 3, 4 and gear 156 is elevated above the level of locking pins 152 and is moved into engagement with a horizontally disposed rack 155 normally spaced above gear 150. Rack 155 is suitably secured to one side of a piston rod 156 guided for longitudinal sliding movement in a guide block 157 suitably secured to the bottom wall 121 of housing 122 (FIGURES 2 and 4).

Piston rod 156 slidably penetrates the head of a fluid pressure cylinder 160 and has a piston 161 (FIGURES 2 and fixed thereto and mounted for longitudinal movement in cylinder 160. The head and base ends of cylinder 160 are suitably secured, as by screws 162, to bottom wall 121 of housing 122. The ends of piston rod 156 and rack 155 remote from cylinder 160 are preferably flush with each other and are suitably secured to one end of a piston rod 165 positioned in substantial alinement with piston rod 156.

Piston rod 165 slidably penetrates the head end of a fluid pressure buffer cylinder 166 and has a piston 167 suitably secured thereto or formed integral therewith. Piston 167 is mounted for axial movement within cylinder 166. The head and base ends of cylinder 166 are suitably secured to bottom wall 121 of housing 122, as by screws 170 (FIGURE 2). The end of piston rod 165 adjacent piston rod 156 has a greater surface area than piston rod 156 so that piston rod 165 normally may engage guide block 157. Thus, guide block 157 serves as a limiting means to limit the extent to which piston rod 165 may move from right to left in FIGURE 2.

Cylinders 160, 166 are of the double-acting type and have corresponding ends of respective pairs of conduits 181, 182 and 183, 184 communicatively connected to the base ends and head ends, respectively, thereof (FIGURE 10). The ends of conduits 181, 184 remote from cylinders 160, 166 are connected to one end of a conduit 185. The other ends of conduits 182, 185 are connected to ports 0, d at opposite sides of the housing of a composite or double-acting valve V (FIGURES 2 and 10).

A pressure inlet port e of valve V has a conduit 190 connected thereto which leads to a suitable source of fluid pressure 191 preferably in the form of compressed air. Fluid pressure source 191 is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 10.

Composite valve V includes two relatively movable valve elements or plungers 192, 193 which are normally urged upwardly toward closed or exhaust position and into engagement with an actuator arm or lever 194 by respective springs 3. Valve lever 194 is journaled, as at 195, on the body of valve V at a point thereabove and approximately half-way between the vertical axes of valve elements 192, 193.

Thus, when either of the valve elements 192, 193 occupies lowered or open position, the other of the valve elements occupies raised or inoperative position. When valve element 192 occupies lowered position, fluid pressure flows from the source 191 through port e and port 0 of valve V to enter the head end of cylinder 160. At the same time, fluid pressure is exhausted from the base end of cylinder 160 through conduits 181, 185, port d of valve V, and through a discharge port g, which in this instance, establishes communication between port a! and the atmosphere when valve element 193 occupies the closed or raised position. It is apparent that valve V is particularly adapted for use with compressed air. However, it is to be understood that the fluid medium in the fluid pressure circuit may be in liquid form.

When lever 194 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURES 5 and 10, plunger 193 of valve V is forced downwardly to open position as plunger 192 is moved upwardly by the corresponding spring 1 to closed position. Thus, fluid pressure will enter port e and pass through port d and conduits 185, 181 to the base end of cylinder as fluid pressure is exhausted from the head end of cylinder 160 through conduit 182, port c of valve V and an exhaust port h which establishes communication between port 0 and the atmosphere when valve 192 occupies raised or closed position.

Lever 194 extends beyond the housing of valve V and has a follower 197 thereon adapted to be alternately engaged by an abutment ring 200 and the upper surface of gear 150. Ring 200 is suitably secured to and encircles post 111 in predetermined spaced relation above gear 150 so that, when post 111 occupies its normal lowered position, valve plunger 192 occupies open position and plunger 193 occupies closed or inactive position.

In the course of each upward movement of post 111 and carriage 100, the valve springs 1 (FIGURE 10) cause plungers 192, 193 to occupy a neutral position as the inner portion of lever 194- is raised and thereby moved to neutral position. Thereafter, gear 150 moves into engagement with follower 197 and raises the corresponding end of lever 194 until valve plunger 193 is moved to fully open position and valve plunger 192 occupies closed or exhaust position. Abutment ring 200 may be adjustably secured on the post 111 as by means of a set screw 201.

One end of a conduit 205 (FIGURES 2 and 10) is communicatively connected to a medial portion of conduit and the other end of conduit 205 is connected to the input side of a normally closed solenoid relay valve V-1. A port k in the housing of valve V-1 has one end of a conduit 206 connected thereto, the other end of which is connected to the closure member 142 for communication with the lower end of cylinder 141. The plunger or valve element 207 of valve V-l normally occupies raised or closed position in FIGURE 10 during which it establishes communication between port k and a discharge or exhaust port I in the housing of valve V-l. Valve V1 includes an electromagnetic or solenoid coil 211) which, when energized, moves plunger 207 downwardly in FIGURE 10 to open position, thus establishing communication between conduits 205, 206 and interrupting communication between ports k and I.

It is apparent, therefore, that energization of coil 216 opens valve V-1 and permits fluid pressure to enter the lower end of cylinder 141 to thereby raise piston 140, piston rod 116, post 111 and carriage 100. Conversely, when coil 210 is deenergized and permits valve V-1 to close, fluid pressure is then exhausted through the port I and permits the piston 140, piston rod 116, post 111 and carriage 100 to return to lowered position.

The end of conduit 183 remote from cylinder 166 is connected to the base end of a single-acting fluid pressure control cylinder 212 having a piston 213 therein normally urged to inactive position by a compression spring m. The base end of cylinder 212 is pivotally connected, as at 214, to a fixed part of the drawing frame adjacent reset arm 42 of yardage counter 40. A piston rod 21 is connected to piston 213, extends through the head end of cylinder 212 and is pivotally connected to reset arm 42.

It is apparent that, whenever fluid pressure is introduced into the base end of cylinder 160, it also is introduced into the head end of cylinder 166 through the interconnecting conduit 184. When piston 167 moves from left to right in FIGURES 2 and 10, it forces fluid to flow through conduit 183 into cylinder 212, thereby moving piston 213 and piston rod n from left to right in FIGURE 10. This resets the counter 40 and releases or opens switch 41. The base end of cylinder 212 (FIG- URE 10) has a bleeder passage 215 therein to relieve pressure in the conduit 183 while permitting operation of pistons 167, 213 in the desired manner. Throttle valves 9 V-2, V-'3 are positioned in conduits 183, 185. The electrical circuit for the first embodiment of the automatic dotfer will now be described.

As heretofore stated, operation of the drawing frame, including the roll sections 20, 20a, coiler heads 23, 23a and turntables 51, 51a, is started upon energization of the clutch or electric motor 35. Energization of clutch 35 may be effected automatically upon completion of an indexing step in the operation of the automatic doifer. Also, clutch 35 may be deenergized automatically through operation of a conventional fault-actuated stop motion 220 shown diagrammatically in 'FIGURE 10, or upon a corresponding pair of cans C being filled with sliver and a cycle in the operation of the carriage indexing appar-atus being initiated, or manually controlled.

The manual control for clutch 35 includes a normally open start switch 221 and a normally closed stop switch 222, to opposite sides of which respective pairs of conductors 223, 224 and 225, 226 are connected. Conductor 223 is a lead conductor connected to one side of a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown. Another lead conductor 227 extends from the other Side of said source of electrical energy to one end of the coil 230 of an electromagnetic relay 231. The other end of coil 230 has the conductor 224 and conductors 232, 233 connected thereto.

An electromagnetic relay 234 is provided which includes a coil 235 and a normally closed switch 236. Conductor 232 is connected to one side of switch 236 and the other side of switch 236 has a conductor 240 extending therefrom to one side of a normally open switch 241 of relay 231. Conductor 226 is connected to the other side of switch 241. Relay 231 also includes a normally open switch 243 to opposite sides of which conductors 244, 245 are connected. Conductor 245 is also connected to one side of the coil of clutch 35 and the other side of this coil has a conductor 246 extending therefrom to lead conductor 227.

Lead conductor 223 has a normally closed stop motion switch 247 interposed therein which is connected to fault actuated stop motion 220. It is apparent that the fault actuated stop motion 220 may operate in response to a broken sliver passing to either of the roll sections 20, 20a (FIGURE 1), or to the choking of either of the trumpets 22, 22a or to the wrapping of sliver around any of the drafting rolls a, or to various other faulty operations of the drawing frame, as is well known, to thereby open the switch 247 and maintain the same open until such time as the fault is corrected.

It is apparent that, in order to start the roving frame, switch 221 is closed manually and permits current to flow from lead conductor 227 through coil 2'30, conductor 224, and switch 221 to lead conductor 223, thus energizing coil 230 and closing relay switches 241, 243. Current then flows to clutch 35 from conductor 227, through conductor 246, clutch 35, conductor 245, relay switch 243 and conductor 244 to lead conductor 223.

In order to maintain the flow of current through coil 230 when manual switch 221 is released and permitted to open, the closing of relay switch 241 maintains the flow of current to the coil 230 of relay 231 as current flows from lead conductor 227, through coil 230, through conductor 232, switch 236, conductor 240, switch 241, conductor 226, stop switch 222 and conductor 225 to lead conductor 223. It is apparent that, thereafter, upon any one or more of the switches 222, 236, 241 and 247 being opened, the coil 230 of relay 231 is deenergized, both switches 241, 243 open and clutch 35 is deenergized to stop the drawing frame.

The relay 234 is provided for stopping the drawing frame upon completion of each successive can filling cycle of the drawing frame and upon initiation of each cycle in the operation of the can dofiing apparatus. Accordingly, one end of the coil 235 of relay 234 has a conductor 250 leading therefrom to lead conductor 227 and 10 the other end of coil 235 has a conductor 251 leading therefrom to one end of the ,coil 210 of relay valve V-l. The other end of coil 210 has a conductor 252 leading therefrom to one side of the normally open yardage counter switch 41.

The other side of switch41 has a conductor 253 leading therefrom to one side of a normally closed limit switch 254 whose other side has a conductor 255 connected thereto and leading to a conductor 256. One end of conductor 256 is connected to lead conductor 223 and the other end of conductor 256 is connected to a normally open auxiliary start switch 257 which is arranged in parallel with switch 254 and is mechanically connected thereto so that, when switch 254 is moved to open position, switch 257 is moved to closed position and, when switch 254 is released and returns to closed position, switch 257 returns to open position.

The side of switch 257 remote from conductor 256 has the end of conductor 233 remote from coil 230 of relay 231 connected thereto. Switches 254, 257 are within a common switch box 258 (FIGURES 2 and 10) carried by a bracket 259 fixed on bottom wall 121 of housing 122. Switch 254 has a control arm 254a which is adapted to be engaged by rack 155.

A normally closed safety switch 270, arranged in parallel with yardage counter switch 41, has conductors 271, 272 leading from opposed sides thereof to the respective conductors 252, 253. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the housing of safety switch 270 is carried by a bracket 270a fixed to the bottom wall 121 of housing 122 adjacent the axle 111. The housing of switch 270- has a normally upwardly biased switch actuator arm 273 pivotally mounted thereon which bears against the lower surface of abutment ring 200 so that, when axle 111 occupies lowered position, it holds normally closed switch 270 in open position. However, when axle 111 occupies raised position, switch 270 occupies closed position.

In the interim between the start of filling each successive pair of coiler cans and the depositing of sufficient sliver therein so the sliver masses bear against the tube gears 26 and spectacle plate 27, there is a tendency for the strands of sliver S issuing from the tube gears to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, especially during high-speed drawing. Thus, in order to prevent the sliver ri-om being thrown outwardly over the upper edge of the cans during such interim in the areas where the edges of the .cans move close to the vertical planes of the paths of travel of the tubes of the tube gears (see FIGURES 7 and 8), sliver bumper means are suspended from spectacle plate 27 and bridge the gap between the tube gears 26 and the upper ends oft he coiler cans C1, C2 a djacent the rear portions thereof.

The sliver bumper means comprises a pair of laterally spaced fixed sliver bumper plates 28!, 28 1a with a pivoted sliver bumper plate 280 bridging the distance therebetween. Plates 28-1, 281a are suitably secured to spectacle plate 27 and extend rearlwardly in diverging relationship closely adjacent corresponding portions of the upper edges of cans C1, C2. Plate 280 is pivotally connected to spectacle plate 27, as by hinges 282, so plate 280 is normally positioned adjacent the edge portions of cans C 1, C42 and tube gears 26 (FIGURE 8). Bumper plate 280 is normally positioned in the path which the upper end of can C2 and the sliver mass projecting above can C2 Will trace when the subsequent dofling operation occurs.

Thus, during the dofiing operation, in which the cans C1, C2, C-la, C-2a move in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrows in the inverted plan view of FIGURE 8, the sliver mass in can C2, which is com pacted against spectacle plate 27 and the corresponding tube gear 26, engages and swings the bumper plate 280 rear-wardly and upwardly into a recess 283 formed in spectacle 27 and being of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of plate 280. This prevents the plate 280 from disturbing the projecting mass of sliver in can C2 11 during the dofiin'g operation. As can C-Z moves rearwardly thereafter; i.e., from left to right in FIGURE 8, plate 280 gravitates to its normal position.

Method operation of first embodiment of can dofler For the purpose of this description, it is to be assumed that the drawing frame has been stopped, either by manual operation of stop switch 222 or by the opening of switch 247 of fault actuated stop motion 220, that the two coiler cans C1, C-2 (FIGURE 1) are partially filled with sliver and that the coiler cans C1a, C2a are empty. With the drawing frame in this condition, the various movable parts of the automatic can doffer would be occupying the positions shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10. In other words, the carriage 100 and its post 111 would be occupying lowered and locked position. Thus, switch 270 would be held in open position, solenoid valve V-1 would occupy closed position and the valve elements 192, 193 of composite valve V would occupy the respective open and closed positions shown in FIGURE 10.

The drawing frame then would be started by manually and momentarily closing start switch 221 to energize clutch 35 in the manner heretofore described, If it so happens that the amount of sliver then supported on the corresponding false bottoms 55 in the cans C1, C2 i such that the mass of sliver does not engage the lower surfaces of the tube gears 26 (FIGURE 7) and spectacle plate 27, the bumper plates 280, 281, 281a will assist in preventing the sliver issuing from the tube gears 26 from being thrown over the rear edges of the corresponding cans C-1, C-2.

After the cans C-ll, C-2 have been filled with coiled sliver to the desired extent with the sliver masses therein compacted under normal pressure against tube gears 25 and spectacle plate 27, the signal switch or yardage counter switch 41 (FIGURE is moved to closed p sition in a conventional manner to stop the drawing frame and initiate a cycle in the operation of the automatic can doffer. Accordingly, the closing of yardage counter switch 4 1 causes current to flow from lead conductor 227 through conductor 256, coil 235 of relay 234, coil 21% of valve V-1, conductor 252, switch 41, conductor 253, switch 254, and conductors 255, 256 to lead conductor 223, thus simultaneously energizing both coils 210, 235 and causing relay switch 236 and valve plunger 207 to move to open positions.

It is apparent that movement of switch 236 to open position deenergizes coil 230, thereby permitting switches 241, 243 to move to open position to stop the flow of current through clutch 35, and thereby stopping the drawing frame. As heretofore stated, when valve plunger 207 is moved to open position, fluid pressure enters the lower end of cylinder 141, thereby raising piston 140 and piston rod 116 (FIGURE 3) to thereby raise post 111 and carriage 100 from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to that shown in FIGURE 4. Thus, gear 150 is moved above the level of the locking pins 152 and into engagement with rack 155.

As gear 150 moves into engagement with rack 155, ring 200 moves upwardly and permits safety switch 278 to close and gear 150 moves into engagement with follower 197, thus reversing the position of valve plungers 192, 193 of composite valve V (FIGURES 5 and 10). In so doing, this reverses the flow of fluid pressure through valve V so that it enters the left-hand ends of cylinders 161 165 in FIGURES 2 and 10, thus moving piston 161, piston rods 156, 165, piston 167 and rack 155 from left to right in FIGURES 2 and 10.

As piston 167 moves from left to right in FIGURES 2 and 10, pressure produced thereby, in cylinder 166 is transmitted into the base end of cylinder 213 through conduit 183 and thus imparts active movement to piston 213, and piston rod n from left to right in FIGURE 10. In so doing, reset lever 42 is moved from left to right and thereby resets the yardage counter 40- to open switch 4 1 in a well-known manner. Safety switch 270 then serves to maintain flow of current through coils 210, 235.

Throttle valves V2, V-3 are provided in conduits 183, 1 to cushion active movement of, and prevent excessive speed of, rack 155 and carriage during each indexing operation. It is apparent that the combined power of cylinders 160, 166 is effective to impart active movement to rack 155, carriage 100 and cans C1, C-2, C-la, C2a.

When the carriage 100 was moved upwardly in the aforementioned manner, the supports 101, 102 moved upwardly into engagement with the flanges 60 of the corresponding cans C-1, C-2 and then lifted the same at least sufficiently to where the casters 61 would be disposed on a higher level than the bodies 63 of turntables 51, 51a, as shown in FIGURE 4. Supports 103, 104 also lift cans C-la, C-2a at this time. The sliver masses in cans C-1, C2 are compacted to a normal degree against the lower surfaces of tube gears 26 and spectacle plate 27 while the cans C-1, C-2 are supported and rotated by the turntables 51, 51a. However, the normal degree of compaction of the sliver is such that the sliver strands can be pulled outwardly easily from between the compacted masses and the spectacle plate 27.

According to the present method the trailing portions of the strands S between the calender rolls 24, 25 and the final coils in the masses of sliver projecting above the filled cans C1, C-2, are parted automatically during the dotting operation by applying such tension to the trailing portions of sliver to tear each of them apart at some indeterminate point along their length. It follows that an important step of the present method resides in elevating the filled cans C4, 02 bodily away from the turntables 51, 51a and toward the spectacle plate so as to compact further the sliver masses in cans C-1, C-2 against the spectacle plate 27 and tube gears 26 to such extent that the trailing sliver portions cannot be pulled away from the respective sliver masses, per se, without tearing the sliver portions apart. The elevating of carriage 100 in the aforementioned manner achieves the necessary abnormal compaction of the sliver masses for this purpose and maintains such compaction until the cans C-1, C2 are moved outwardly from beneath spectacle plate 27. The amount of such outward movement is substantially greater than that required to so tension the trailing portions of sliver as to tear them apart.

It is apparent that the cans C-1, C-2 are moved outwardly as rack 155 is moved in an active stroke from left to right in FIGURES 2 and 10 and away from the observer in FIGURE 4. Center post 111, piston rod 116, piston and carriage 100 are rotated by active movement of rack until they have moved through an angle of degrees in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURES 1 and 2. During the course of such counterclockwise movement of carriage 101 the coiler cans C1 through C-2a are moved in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 8, since FIGURE 8 is an inverted plan view of the tube gears 26.

As heretofore stated, as the filled cans C-1, 0-2 move in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 8, the mass of sliver projecting above the filled can C-2, and the succeeding empty can C-Za, move against and tilt the pivoted bumper plate 280 (FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9) so that the bumper plate 280 will not interfere with the indexing movement of the filled coiler can C-2 and the empty can C-2a. As the filled coiler cans C1, 0-2 are moved with carriage 100-, the calender rolls 4, 25 and tube gears 26 are stationary so the trailing sliver portions are pulled apart and cans C1, C-2 then move into the positions previously occupied by the empty cans C-la, C2a while the empty cans move into the positions previously occupied by the previously filled coiler cans C1, C-2. The filled coiler cans then occupying the inactive position of the previously empty coiler cans may be removed from the corresponding can supports 101, 102 and replaced with empty cans at any time thereafter and prior to the cans C-la, C-Za being filled with coiled sliver.

Safety switch 270 is closed as long as carriage 100 occupies raised position so that current continues to how through the coils 210, 235 of the valve V-1 and relay 234 until an active stroke of rack 155 is completed. At this time, the right-hand end of rack 155 engages switch arm 254a of swiLch 254 and moves the same to open position. The head end of cylinder 166 may be so positioned as to stop the active movement of rack 155 at precisely the desired instant, or a suitable abutment may be provided for this purpose, so the cavities 151 will again be alined with locking pins 152 therebeneath.

When limit switch 254 is opened by rack 155, this interrupts the flow of current through coils 210, 235, thereby permitting switch 236 and valve plunger 207 to return to closed position. Since carriage 100, post 111 and the elements supported thereby are relatively heavy, the carriage 100 returns to lowered position quite quickly upon valve plunger 207 returning to closed position and permitting fluid pressure to escape from the lower end of cylinder 141 through the exhaust port 1.

Even though auxiliary start switch 257 is closed substantially simultaneously with the opening of switch 254 and thus energizes coil 230 to energize clutch 35 and start the drawing frame, the casters 61 (FIGURE 3) on the coiler cans C-la, C2a then in operative position beneath the coiler heads 23, 23a will have engaged or very nearly engaged the upper surfaces of the flanges 64 of the corresponding turntables 51, 51a by the time the drawing frame is restarted. Thus, the drawing frame may restart before the commencement of an inactive stroke of rack 155 from right to left in FIGURES 2 and 10.

During such inactive stroke of rack 155, it should be noted that the gear 150 on post 111 is then positioned below and out of engagement with rack 155. Also, since piston rods 156, 165 are interconnected, the piston rod 156 pulls piston rod 165 and piston 167 with it and withdraws fiuid pressure from control cylinder 212, thereby permitting the spring in to return piston 213, piston rod )1 and counter reset lever 42 to inactive position.

This completes a cycle in the operation of the drawing frame and the first embodiment of the automatic can dotfer.

Second form of automatic can dofiefi The second form of automatic dotfer of the present invention is devised for dofiing coiler cans from a single coiler mechanism and is shown in association with the sliver coiler mechanism of a carding machine. The carding machine of FIGURE 11 is conventional, with the exception of minor modifications which will be later described. The carding machine includes a conventionally driven lap feed roll 300 at its rear end which feeds fibers from a lap roll 301 of textile fibers to a lickerin section 302 which, in turn, delivers the fibers to a main card cylinder '303 which cards the fibers in the usual manner and transfers the same to a doffer cylinder 304. The fiber-s are removed from doifer cylinder 304 in the form of a web and drawn through a pair of calender rolls 305 in the form of a sliver S.

The lap feed I011 300, lickerin section 302, main cylinder 303, dotfer cylinder 304, and calender rolls 305 are driven and mounted on a frame 306 in a conventional manner. As is well known, the calender rolls 305 are driven by suitable gearing, not shown, connecting the same with the doifer cylinder 304 and the doffer cylinder is, in turn, driven by the lickerin cylinder, not shown, of the lickerin section 302. The lickerin cylinder is driven continuously by suitable connections with the main cylinder 303, as is well known.

The lap feed roll 300 is also driven by conventional connections, not shown, with the doffer cylinder 304 so that, upon dotfer cylinder 304 being stopped for any reason whatsoever, the calender rolls 305 and lap feed roll 300 also stop. Accordingly, the conventional drive between the cylinder of lickerin section 302 and doffer cylinder 304 will now be described. The shaft .of the cylinder of lickerin section 302 is indicated at 310 and has a pulley 31 1 fixed thereon which is engaged by an endless belt 312. Endless belt 312 extends forwardly and also engages a tight pulley 313 during normal operation of the carding machine and is shifted into engagement with a loose pulley 314 to stop the production of sliver S' by the carding machine at least upon each successive coiler can being filled to the desired extent by a conventional coiler mechanism 320.

Tight and loose pulleys 313, 314 are respectively fixed on and loosely mounted on a conventional jack shaft 321 journaled in the frame 306. The end of the jack shaft 321 shown in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 may also be journaled in a conventional knock-01f lever 322 pivotally mounted, as at 323, on one side of frame 306. A gear 324 fixed on the shaft of doffer cylinder 304 meshes with a pinion 325 fixed on jack shaft 321.

Means are provided for automatically shifting belt 312 from the tight pulley 313 to the loose pulley 314 upon each successive coiler can being filled with sliver and for shifting belt 312 from loose pulley 314 to tight pulley 313 upon completion of each cycle in the operation of the second form of automatic doffer, as will be later described.

Coiler mechanism 320 may be of the conventional type usually associated with carding machines and includes a hollow pedestal or post 330 which supports a conventional coiler head 23' on its upper end and which is fixed upon a conventional hollow base Those parts of the coiler mechanism 320 (FIGURE 14) similar to parts of the coiler mechanism which includes coiler head 23 and turntable 51 of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added for purposes orientation and briev-ity.

As is usual, sliver S is drawn from between calender rolls 305, over the cover of coiler head 23 and through a trumpet 22 by a pair of calender rolls 24. Calender rolls 24' direct the sliver S through a coiler plate 26' shown in the form of a tube gear rotatably mounted on a spectacle plate 27' and positioned in a suitable opening formed in spectacle plate 27. Calender rolls 24' may have a pair of intenmeshing gears 3'32 fixed thereon, only one. of which is shown in FIGURE 14.-

One of the calender rolls 24' has a bevel gear 81' fixed thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 80' fixed on the upper end of a coiler shaft 73' which extends downwardly and is suitably journaled in the pedestal 330. The lower end of coiler shaft 73' within hollow base 50' is connected to a gear 70 .by a train of gears broadly designated at 72. Gear 70' is fixed on the lower portion of a shaft 66' journaled in the upper wall of hollow base 50' and whose flanged upper portion, above base 50', has a coiler turntable 51 suitably secured thereto (FIGURE 18). Turntable 51' includes elements 63', 64', 65' which correspond to elements 63, 64, 65 of the turntables 51, 51a in the first form of the invention (FIGURES 2 and 3).

Turntable 51' is adapted to support coiler cans C, one at a time, which may be identical to the coiler cans C and whose corresponding parts shall bear the same reference characters as the coiler cans C with the prime notation added. The coiler cans C include a can 0-3 which occupies active position on the turntable 51 in FIGURES 1-1, 14 and 18, and a pair of reserve or empty coiler cans C-4, C5.

The coiler shaft 73' may be driven to transmit rotation to tube gear 26' and turntable 51' by conventional or other suitable means operatively connected to the carding machine. In this instance, the driven bottom calender roll 305 in FIGURE 14 is connected to the upper calender roll 305 by a pair of gears 335 positioned within a conventional gear box 336 which also contains a gear 337 engaged by one of the gears 335. Gear box 336 is suitably attached to pedestal 330. A shaft 340, journaled between gear box 336. and pedestal 330, has the gear 337 and a bevel gear 341 fixed on opposite ends thereof. Bevel gear 341 meshes with a bevel gear 342 fixed on shaft 73'. Thus, tube gear 26 and turntable 51 are driven in timed relation to the calender rolls 305 and dofier cylinder 304 and rotate only when dolfer cylinder 304 is rotating.

With the exception of the particular manner in which the turntable 51 and coiler cans C are constructed, the parts of the carding machine and coiler mechanism heretofore described with reference to FIGURES 11-18 may be conventional and it is with such or similar structure that the second embodiment of the automatic can dofier of the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated. The second form of automatic can dofler ineludes many elements similar to or identical to corresponding elements of the first form of automatic doifer shown in FIGURES 1 through 10 and, therefore, where applicable, the second form of can doffer will bear the same reference characters as the first form of can doffer with the prime notation added, and only those elements of the second form of automatic dofier which differ from the first form of automatic doifer will be described in detail for purposes of brevity.

As heretofore stated, the second form of automatic doffer is particularly adapted for removing full coiler cans from a single coiler turntable and replacing the dotted of removed full can with an empty can. Therefore, the turret or carriage 100 includes only three circularly spaced annular can supports, stations or nests 102, 103, 104 arranged in equally angularly and circularly spaced relationship and need not include but two can supports, if desired. Cans C-d, C-S are supported on annular can supports 103, 104 while can C3 is supported by turntable 51' and can support 102 is in registration with turntable 51'.

It follows that the second form of carriage 100 and the cans supported thereby may be substantially lighter weight than the first form of carriage 100 and the cans supported thereby so that certain operating elements associated with the second form of carriage 100' need not be made as heavy and need not transmit the extent of angular force to the carriage 100' as is the case with respect to the carriage 100. Therefore, the indexer housing 122' is suitably secured to the upper surface of the floor F instead of being positioned in an opening formed in the floor, as is the ease with the housing 122.

The second form of automatic dofler also differs from the first form in that rack 155 is connected to gear 150 on the lower end of sleeve 120 when the latter is raised, by means of an intermediate gear or pinion 150a which is permanently engaged by rack 155'. Also, buffer cylinder 166' and piston 167 (FIGURES 16 and 19) are of substantially lesser diameter than cylinder 160 and piston 161 and function somewhat different from the cylinder 166 and piston 167 of FIGURES 2 and 10.

The second form of automatic doffer is not equipped with a safety switch corresponding to switch 270 in FIG- URES 2 and 10 and the initiation of a cycle in the operation of the carriage 100 is effected by a counter mechanism 40' which is arranged ditferent from the counter mechanism 40 of the first form of the invention.

Although the operation of the carriage 100' is quite similar to the operation of carriage 100, the differences therebetween are such that the electrical and fiuid pressure circuits of FIGURE 19 will be completely described.

Opposed ends of cylinder 160 (FIGURE 19) are connected to a valve V which, as shown, is identical to valve V of FIGURE 10 and, therefore, the valve V and associated parts shall bear the same reference characters as the valve V, with the prime notation added, in order to avoid repetitive description, Corresponding ends of a pair of conduits 345, 34-6 (FIGURE 19), connected to the inlet port e of valve V and to the lower end of cylinder 141, extend through housing bottom wall 121 and fioor F. Cylinder 141 (FIGURES l8 and 19) is formed within the enlarged lower portion of sleeve 120.

16 in this instance, and a suitable gasket G may be provided between flange 119 of sleeve 120 and the bottom 121 of housing 122 to prevent leakage of fluid pressure therebetween.

The other end of conduit 346 (FIGURE 19) is connected to a port k of an electromagnetic or solenoid valve V1 which may be of the same construction as valve V-1 of FIGURES 2 and 10. Port k is normally closed by a valve plunger 207 which, when closed, normally establishes communication between port k and the atmosphere through a port I. The other side of valve V-1 has a conduit 205 extending therefrom to a conduit 350, one end of which is connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure 191, such as compressed air, and the other end of which is connected to an electromagnetic or solenoid valve V-1. Valve V-1 is shown as being identical to valve V1' and the various elements thereof shall bear the same reference characters as those associated with valve V1 with the double prime notation substituted for the single prime notation.

Valve V4 includes a coil 210 which, when energized, moves valve plunger 207' to open position to establish communication between conduits 346, 350 and to close port I. Conduit 345 is connected to conduit 350 and the port k" of valve VH1" has a conduit 351 extending therefrom to the base end of a control cylinder 212 having a piston 213 therein to which one end of a piston rod n is fixedly connected. A spring m normally urges piston 213 toward the base end of cylinder 212.

It will be observed in FIGURES 12 and 13 that opposed ends of cylinder 212 are suitably secured to and depend from an outwardly extending bracket 353, suitably secured to one side of the frame 306 of the carding machine, adjacent the tight and loose pulleys 313, 314. Piston rod 11 loosely penetrates the head of cylinder 212' and its threaded outer end has the stem 354 of a belt shifter or fork 355 adjustably secured thereto, as by lock nuts 356, Fork 355 is guided for longitudinal sliding movement in a slot 357 formed in the bracket 353, and the arms or prongs of fork 355 straddle the upper run of belt 312.

It is apparent that spring m (FIGURE 19) normally holds the belt 312 in engagement with tight pulley 313 during normal operation of the carding machine and the coiler mechanism 320 thereof. However, when valve V-l is opened by energization of its coil 210", fluid pressure enters the right-hand end of cylinder 212 in FIGURES 12 and 19 and causes belt shifter 355 to move belt 312 out of engagement with tight pulley 313 and into engagement with loose pulley 314 to thus stop the lap feed roll 300, the lickerin section 302, the doifer cylinder 304, the calender rolls 305 and the coiler mechanism 320.

Buffer cylinder 166 (FIGURES 6 and 19) has a conduit 183' extending from its base end to conduit 345. Instead of the piston rods 156, 165 being interconnected, as is the case with the piston rods 156, 165 of FIGURES 2 and 10, the outer end of piston rod 165' has an enlarged portion or cap 361 thereon which is normally spaced from the corresponding ends of rack and piston rod 156. During each active stroke of rack 155' and piston rod 156 toward cylinder 166', they move the cap 361 on piston into engagement with the actuator arms 254a of a normally closed limit switch 254' to opposed sides of which corresponding ends of a pair of conductors 363, 364 are connected.

The other end of conductor 364 is connected to one end of the coil 210 of valve V-l". The coil 210" also has a conductor 365 extending therefrom to one end of coil 210. A lead conductor 366 is connected to the other end of coil 210. Corresponding ends of conductors 363, 366 are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy embodied in a plug 370.

Conductor 363 has a normally open signal switch 371 interposed therein which is a part of yardage counter 40 and whose housing is suitably secured to the rear portion of one side of the frame 306 of the carding machine as shown in FIGURES 11 and 15. Switch 371 may be of a type corresponding to switch 41 of the yardage counter 40 shown in the upper portion of FIGURE 10. In this instance, however, it will be observed in FIGURES 11, 15 and 19 that the counter 40' is of a type including a pair of hunting-tooth gears including a stationary but rotataable gear 375 and a floating gear 376 whose peripheral teeth normally are interengaged.

Gear 375 is fixed on one reduced end of lap feed roll 300 and gear 376 is journaled, as at 377, on one side of a lever 380. One end of lever 380 is piovtally connected to frame 306, as at 381, and the other end of lever 380 has one end of a tension spring 382 connected thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of tension spring 382 is connected, as at 383, to the frame 306 so that gear 376 is normally urged toward and into engagement with fixed gear 375.

The gears 375, 376 are of different diameters and have respective strikers or hunting-tooth members 384, 385 suitably secured thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond the planes of the outer peripheries of gears 375, 376. Signal switch 371 is positioned closely adjacent to and beneath the free end of lever 380 so that, upon interen-gagement of the strikers 384, 385, gear 376 is moved away from gear 375, thereby moving lever 380 into engagement with signal switch 371 to close the same.

Method operation of the second form of automatic dofier It is to be assumed that the carding machine and coiler mechanism 320 are operating in the usual manner to coil sliver into can C-3 in FIGURES ll, 14 and 18 and that the various movable parts of the second form of automatic dofler occupy the positions shown in FIGURES 11-19 with fluid pressure being applied at the head end of cylinder 160' and at the base end of cylinder 166'. The relative size of gears 375, 376 is such that the strikers 384', 385 will engage each other when the amount of textile fibers fed from the lap roll 301 is such as to fill coiler can C-3 to the desired extent with the sliver mass in coiler can C-3 pressing against the lower surface of spectacle plate 27'.

As heretofore stated, when the strikers 384, 385 move into engagement with each other, signal switch 371 is closed, thereby simultaneously energizing the coils 210, 210" of valves V-l', V-l" (FIGURE 19). Energization of coils 210', 210" opens the respective valves V1', V1" thereby admitting fluid pressure into cylinders 212' and 141.

When fluid pressure is admitted into cylinder 212', belt 312 (FIGURES 11, 12, 13 and 19) is shifted into engagement with loose pulley 314 to stop rotation of doffer cylinder 304, calender rolls 305, and other aforementioned elements of the carding machine, and also to stop rotation of tube gear 26 and turntable 51' of coiler mechanism 320. When fluid pressure is admitted into the lower end of the cylinder 141 (FIGURES l8 and 19), piston 140, piston rod 116, axle 111' and carriage 100' are elevated. In so doing, support 102' moves upwardly against the flange 60' of coiler can C3 and then lifts the same at least sufliciently so the casters 61 (FIGURE 18) are disposed above the level of body 63' of turntable 51'. This also compacts further the sliver mass in can C3 against spectacle plate 27' and tube gear 26' (FIGURE 14) to such extent that the trailing sliver portion extending between the latter sliver mass and tube gear 26' is firmly clamped by and cannot be pulled away from the sliver mass per se without tearing the trailing sliver portion apart.

As carriage 100 is moved to raised position, the gear 150 on axle 111' is moved into engagement with pinion 150a and follower 197, thereby permitting valve element 192 of valve V to move to closed position while moving valve element 193 to open position. Since valve element 193 then occupies open position, it is apparent that fluid pressure enters the base end of cylinder 160' and causes piston 161', piston rod 156 and rack 155 to move in an active stroke and impart an angular step of 120 in rotation to carriage in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 16.

It is apparent that, as an active stroke is imparted to rack 155', the trailing portion of sliver between the mass in filled can C3 and tube gear 26' is pulled taut and then torn apart due to the compaction of the sliver mass against the spectacle plate 27' combined with the movement of the sliver mass away from tube gear 26. The empty can 0-4 (FIGURE 14) moves into operative positive above the turntable 51' as can C-3 is dotted so the cans C3, C4, 05 then occupy the positions previously occupied by the respective cans C-5, C3, 0-4.

In order that the empty cans are not thrown off the carriage 100' in the course of each active stroke of rack 155', the rack 155 and/or the piston rod 156 move into engagement with cap 361 on piston rod 165' shortly after active movement of rack 155' commences. Since piston 167' is of substantially lesser diameter than piston 161', it is apparent that the effective force applied against piston 165 by rack 155' and piston 156' is substantially greater than that opposed by the fluid pressure acting on piston 167 so piston 167 then cushions and retards the movement of piston rod 156, rack 155' and carriage 100 during each active stroke thereof.

As rack 155 approaches the end of each active stroke, it moves cap 361 (FIGURES 16 and 19) into engagement with actuator arm 254a to thereby open the normally closed limit switch 254' and break the circuit to the coils 210, 210" ofvalves V1', V-l, permitting the plungers 207, 207" to move to closed position. It should be noted that switch actuator 254a is so positioned relative to cap 361 of piston rod 165 that exactly of rotation will be impa ted to carriage 100' with each active stroke of rack 155, at which time the piston 167 may bear against the base end of cylinder 166.

As valves Vl', V1" are opened in the aforementioned manner, spring in causes belt 312 to move into engagement with fast pulley 313 to start rotation of doifer cylinder 304, calender rolls 305, other sliver producing elements of the carding machine and the tube gear 26' and turntable 51' of coiler mechanism 320 to commence the filling of the can C-4 with sliver in a conventional manner. Although the casters 61' of the coiler can C-4 may not be in engagement with the turntable 51' at the instant at which the carding machine and coiler mechanism are restarted, it should be noted that the closing of valve V-1 permits fluid pressure to escape from the lower end of cylinder 141 so that carriage 100 commences to move downwardly at the instant that coiler mechanism 320 is restarted.

As the carriage 100 moves downwardly to its normal position, it not only permits the casters 61' of can C-4 to move into engagement with the turntable 51 so as to be subsequently engaged by the abutments 65' (FIGURE 16), but the ring 200' thereon also moves into engagement with follower 197' to return the valve elements 192, 193' to the position shown in FIGURE 19. The downward movement of axle 111' resulting from the closing of valve V-l' also moves the gear 150' out of engagement with pinion 150a preparatory to a subsequent cycle in the operation of the second form of automatic can doffer.

It should be noted that the rack 15s, piston rod 156 and piston 161' remain in extended position until after belt 312 has been shifted into engagement with tight pulley 313 (FIGURE 12), because of the slower return action of piston and valve V as compared to that of piston 212, so that limit switch 254 remains in open position after the dofler cylinder 304 and coiler mechanism 320, and other associated parts, are restarted. Thus, although signal switch 371 may remain closed after the 

1. A METHOD OF DOFFING A COMPACTED CAN OF COILED SLIVER RESTING ON A TURNTABLE UNDERNEATH A COILER PLATE OF A TEXTILE COILING MECHANISM AND WHEREIN THE COILED SLIVER EXTENDS ABOVE THE TOP OF THE CAN AND IS COMPRESSED AGAINST THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE COILER PLATE; WHICH METHOD COMPRISES (A) ELEVATING THE FILLED CAN OF SLIVER TOWARD THE COILER PLATE WHILE COMPRESSING THE SLIVER MASS MORE TIGHTLY AGAINST THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE COILER PLATE, (B) MOVING THE ELEVATED CAN OF SLIVER OUTWARDLY FROM UNDERNEATH THE COILER PLATE, AND (C) PARTING THE SLIVER ADJACENT THE COILER PLATE DURING MOVEMENT OF THE CAN OF SLIVER FROM UNDERNEATH THE COILER PLATE.
 7. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DOFFING A FILLED CAN OF COILER SLIVER RESTING ON A TURNTABLE UNDERNEATH A COILER PLATE OF A TEXTILE COILING MECHANISM AND WHEREIN THE COILED SLIVER EXTENDS ABOVE THE TOP OF THE CAN AND ENGAGES THE UNDERSIDE OF THE COILER PLATE; SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) MEANS FOR ELEVATING THE FILLED CAN OF SLIVER AWAY FROM THE TURNTABLE TOWARD THE COILER PLATE, AND (B) MEANS FOR MOVING THE ELEVATED CAN OF SLIVER OUTWARDLY FROM UNDERNEATH THE COILER PLATE. 